A groundbreaking was held last week in
the Philippines for the US$250 million, 500-room Shangri-La at the
Fort, Manila, on the site of the former headquarters for the
Philippine Army. The 60-story property, to open in 2012, will be
the company's fifth in the Philippines and will have approximately
50,000 square feet of meeting space, several dining options and a
health club, among other amenities.

The Nordic hotel chain Scandic will
build a 140-room "urban hotel," the Scandic Vulkan, in Oslo,
Norway -- the chain's sixth in that capital city. Construction will
begin in the fall on the $33 million property, which will open in
January 2010. The hotel will have a restaurant and bar, plus an
unspecified amount of conference facilities.

A $25 million, 156-room Hilton Garden Inn is planned for the
site of downtown Pittsburgh's former Allegheny County Jail Annex.
Construction should begin before the end of the year. The property
will include a restaurant, a cafe, a pool, a spa and banquet
facilities.

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